Love Hired As Women's Soccer Coach

University of La Verne Athletic Director Julie Kline has announced the hiring of Antoinette Love as women's soccer head coach after an extensive national search.

A native of Southern California, Love most recently served as an assistant coach at the University of Kansas for four seasons (2008-11).  She also served as an assistant at the University of Nevada for three seasons (2004-2007) prior to becoming interim head coach at Nevada during the 2007-08 academic year. 

Love becomes the fifth head coach in the 25-year history of the Leopard women's soccer program.

"We are beyond thrilled to have Antoinette Love join the Leopards Athletic Department. Coach Love brings both national and international experience at the highest level to our women's soccer program," Kline said.   "I know she will provide the highest quality experience for our student-athletes in that program both on and off the field."

Love began her coaching career at Division III Elmira College (N.Y.), serving as an assistant during the 2003-04 academic year prior to her stint at Kansas. 

She played collegiately at Arizona State University from 1997-2000, becoming the first-ever ASU soccer player to earn All-Pac-10 honors when she was named Second Team All-Conference during her freshman campaign.  She would later earn Second Team Pac-10 honors as a senior in 2000.  Love also played internationally as a member of the Croatian National Team from 1996-99.

Love grew up in Los Angeles and attended Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena prior to enrolling at Arizona State.

"I would like to thank Julie Kline for giving me the opportunity to lead the soccer program which has allowed me to come back home to Southern California where my soccer career started," Love said.  "La Verne Athletics has a rich history of success and I look forward to developing a program that will be a premier team in the SCIAC academically as well as athletically.  I am eager to start meeting with student-athletes, recruiting potential student-athletes, developing relationships with alumnae, and getting to know the University of La Verne community. "

Love earned her bachelor's degree in secondary education from Arizona State in 2002 and later earned her master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Nevada in 2007.